773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion

Motto: FIT VIA VI or "Way is Made by Force"

Unit History: Activated on 15 December, 1941, from the 73d Provisional Antitank Battalion, which had been formed from Louisiana and Pennsylvania National Guard units in July. Arrived at Gourock, Scotland, on 7 February, 1944. Landed at Utah and Omaha beaches on 8 August equipped with M10's. Caught up with spearheads and saw first real action at Le Bourg St. Leonard, beginning 17 August during envelopment of Falaise Pocket. Advanced to Moselle River sector via Paris. Fought at Luneville and the Foret de Parroy. Supported capture of Metz in November. Joined operations against Siegfried Line along the Saar in December, ordered to the Ardennes on 6 January, 1945. Fought through Siegfried Line in February. Reached the Rhine at Koblenz on 16 March. Crossed the Rhine 23–24 March at Oppenheim. Helped capture Darmstadt and Frankfurt before driving across Germany to Czechoslovakia, beginning 1 April. Cleared Czechoslovak-German border area southward and ended war near Petrovice. Attached to: 6th Armored Division; 79th, 90th, 95th Infantry divisions. History text from the book The Tank Killers by Harry Yeide. Used by permission.

5.) Missing Tank Destroyer Crew Members Found. Link to website article about a lost crew of "C" Company of the 773rd TD Battalion and how the site of the incident was identified when a set a dog tags were found. Written by Matthew Rink with additional commentary by Gerard Louis and Michael Ketchum.

6.) Company C, 773rd Tank Destroyer Photo - Photographed by Irvin V. Matloff of Palm Springs, CA. Identified is Willie A. Gilbertson, shown in the back row, 7th from left and Cecil Hopper (Tulare, CA), first row, 2nd from left. Ernest "Ernie" Rabe is standing in the first row, 5th from the right. Photo courtesy of Dan Rabe.

7.) The Jerk Newsletter/Roster - Issue number 7, dated Dec. 12. This was probably 1943, just prior to the unit shipping overseas. It includes a short history of the early days of the unit and some background information on the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Frank G. Spiess, as well as the unit's distinctive insignia and a roster of men. Courtesy of Cindy Russell.

8.) Officer Roster - Although undated, this document may have been created when the 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Association was formed. Courtesy of Tom Michaels.

11.) Unit Citation - Given by Command of the Third Army Commander on February 1, 1945, GO #27, relating to the actions of the 773rd TD Bn in the final operations to close the Argentan-Falaise pocket in support of the 90th Infantry Division. Provided couretsy of Jonathan Tucker.

12.) After Action Reports - from the Combined Arms Research Library of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.